Ground beef stuffing is a hearty meat dish served as a casserole with bread filling and vegetables. Canned stuffing mix is often used, but homemade filling can be healthier and tastier. The dish is adaptable and can be made with different meats, vegetables, and spices. Cheese is often added on top, and the casserole is heated in the oven until the cheese is melted and the flavors are combined.
Despite its name, ground beef stuffing doesn’t usually go inside a turkey or chicken. Instead, this hearty meat dish is usually served as a casserole. The bread filling takes the place of traditional pasta or rice, while ground beef usually gives the filling a protein boost. The filling is cooked in a ceramic or glass baking dish, rather than inside some kind of poultry, and can be served as a traditional holiday dish or as a simple weeknight meal.
Many recipes for ground beef stuffing call for canned stuffing mix. These mixes are usually pre-seasoned and take very little time to prepare, making them convenient for whipping up quick meals. Store-bought filling is usually prepared as the package recommends, then set aside until the other ingredients are ready. In addition to browned ground beef, these almost always include a variety of vegetables.
The vegetables that go into the minced meat filling can be as varied as the cooks who create this dish. Some may enjoy just onions and potatoes in their filling, while others may like to include carrots, peas, green beans, celery, garlic, or even pickles. Any cook’s favorite combination of vegetables is acceptable for this dish, as it is generally very adaptable. Home cooks can even substitute ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or pork. This may change the flavor slightly, but may be healthier for those seeking a low-fat diet.
The beef and vegetables should simmer in a shallow pan until the beef is fully browned and the vegetables are slightly tender. After that, the cook usually adds the filling to the pan, mixes it all together, and scoops it into a roasting pan. Most minced meat filling casseroles are topped with cheese. Cheddar, gruyere, mozzarella, shredded provolone and Parmesan are all generally tasty choices. Cooks can choose just one cheese, mix a few different types, or leave the cheese out of the casserole entirely.
The ground beef filling usually doesn’t need to heat long in the oven because all the ingredients are usually already cooked when the dish is filled. Casseroles with cheese on top are ready when the cheese is melted and a little brown around the edges. Those without cheese typically need about 15 minutes of heating to allow the flavors to marry properly.
Homemade filling can often be a tasty and healthy substitute for the canned filling in this recipe. Those with leftover filling from another meal, or those who just don’t like canned mixes, prefer to use their own recipes instead. Cooks who like to experiment can also combine different types of bread and beef, chicken or vegetable stock, as well as different spice blends, to find the perfect filling base for their ground beef casserole.
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